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one—Mr James Stephenson was another. I was requested to attend the Council, to furnish any evidence in my possession to substantiate certain statements in the China Mail. I may mention, that all my statements were borne out by memoranda produced by Mr May.
Chairman.—Have you had any opinion since?
Chairman.—Do you know if Ma-chow Wong's investigation before the Council was got up at the instigation of Mr Caldwell?
Mr Dixson.—I do not know, I know that Mr Caldwell was exerting himself to accomplish the liberation of Ma-chow Wong, which I attributed to the very long acquaintance which had existed between them.
Chairman.—Did not you say just now that the Council was brought to a sudden close by the production of some memoranda of Mr May?
Mr Dixson.—I think the only reason that I have to do so is, that, with such powerful evidence as was brought against Ma-chow Wong in the Court, I cannot comprehend how Mr Caldwell should still continue to advocate his innocence and strive to procure a pardon.
Mr Dixson.—Yes—Mr Caldwell and Mr Stace, I understood, got permission to take away any documents connected with Ma-chow Wong in the hands of the Police. Certain of these papers, Mr May, with the assistance of interpreters, had taken memoranda. The papers were taken away from the station—I understood by Mr Caldwell and Mr Stace. I had learned something of the contents of the memoranda, and on informing the Council that I believed I could fully substantiate all the statements I had made in the paper, was astonished to learn that a translation of the papers, made by order of the Government, by Mr Caldwell, assisted by Mr Mongan, contained no proofs, or but very trifling proofs indeed, of the charges I had brought. The translation I heard read over in Council, and it proved an entirely different affair from what was shown in Mr May's memoranda. All the members of Council expressed the utmost astonishment at such being the case, and Mr Mongan on being called could not account for it. The Council seemed to break up suddenly.—and I have never heard from that day to this whether the documents were ever forthcoming or not.
Chairman.—Do you agree to Mr Anstey's version of your conversation?
Mr Dixson.—On Mr Anstey's evidence being read over I confirm it with the following remarks:
The fire referred to (when the threatening gesture was made) was at the Police Station, not at Taipingshan. I know nothing of my own knowledge, good or bad, about Mr Caldwell's family; I have been introduced to the reputed adopted Brother and Sister of Mrs Caldwell, I know nothing of my own knowledge against Mrs Caldwell.
Chairman.—Of your own knowledge do you know if she was ever brought from a brothel?
Mr Dixson.—From my own knowledge I do not. I believe she never was a prostitute. I have heard the charges read over. Of the 1st, 2d, and 3d, I know nothing. The 4th must be very much qualified, except in the case of Ma-chow Wong. The 5th, I know nothing of. The 6th I don't know anything about the 8th—I don't understand it. No. 9, I know nothing of. With regard to 10, I have already said all I have to say.
As for 11, there is one entry of money paid to Mr Caldwell in Mr May's memoranda of Wong Akee's books. 12, 13, 14 and 15, I know nothing of. 16 I have already explained. Of 17, 18, and 19, I know nothing.
Chairman.—Did you not tell the Attorney General, last week or the week before, that you did not think that Mrs Caldwell had been a prostitute; but that you knew she had once been an inmate of a brothel, and that you knew a China-woman well who had lived along with her in a brothel?
Mr Dixson.—No,
Chairman.—Did not the Attorney General ask you if you would have any objection to be called to give evidence of these facts?
Mr Dixson.—I said that I should be happy to give evidence, not of these facts, but of facts connected with the general enquiry. What I said was, that I knew or had heard from a person who had lived in a house (not a brothel) with Mrs Caldwell, that she, Mrs Caldwell, had been brought up as a singing-girl in a brothel. I do not know this of my own knowledge—and am not inclined to give the name of my informant. I decline to bring anybody here; but I believe the statement to be true.
[The name of the informant was by request handed over to the Chairman.]
Cross examined—
Chairman.—You have stated in your evidence that you were under the impression that Mr Caldwell had told you after the trial, that his connection with Ma-chow Wong had ceased. If such was the case, I wish to know if you are still under the impression that he is advocating his innocence?
Mr Dixson.—It is not so in the evidence.
Chairman.—You have also stated that some of the papers taken in Ma-chow Wong's possession had been taken from the Police Station by Mr Caldwell and Mr Stace. Will you give your informant's name?
Mr Dixson.—I decline giving the party's name.
Chairman.—You say Mr Mongan was called up and questioned. Can you state if Mr Mongan explained how the examination of the papers was carried on?
Mr Dixson.—No. He said he had been instructed to assist Mr Caldwell in making the translation.
Chairman.—Did you see the memo. of Mr May's before it was produced at the Council?
Mr Dixson.—I decline answering the question. I saw it at the Council.
Chairman.—You have known Mr Caldwell intimately a great many years?
Mr Dixson.—Yes—most intimately, and would probably have done so till this day, but for Ma-chow Wong.
Chairman.—Have you ever had any reason to suspect that Mr Caldwell ever derived any benefit from plunder at sea?
Mr Dixson.—I know of none.
I did not like his connection with Ma-chow Wong.
Chairman.—Do you not know that while he has been in the Government employ, he has done material service to the Government?
Mr Dixson.—I do believe so, most conscientiously.
Chairman.—Are you not aware that Mr Caldwell has been enabled to render most of this public service by means of Ma-chow Wong?
Mr Dixson.—I am; but I qualify it, believing that Ma-chow Wong never gave any information without having a selfish end in view. I know of a case, and brought a witness up to prove it before the Council, where Ma-chow Wong gave information for ships-of-war to attack pirates, and afterwards sent boats to collect loot from the pirate junks after the men-of-war had done with them.
Chairman.—Do you believe that Mr Caldwell derived any pecuniary advantage from his connection with Ma-chow Wong?
Mr Dixson.—I do—in general terms.
Chairman.—Do you think that from any of the unlawful transactions, Mr Caldwell derived any share?
Mr Dixson.—I decline answering that question.
Chairman.—Have you known Mrs Caldwell for any length of time?
Mr Dixson.—I have, intimately.
Chairman.—Are you aware that some time ago she was baptised?
Mr Dixson.—Yes.
Chairman.—And that immediately afterwards they were married in the Cathedral?
Mr Dixson.—Yes, I was present at the marriage. I knew them before their public marriage, and considered them as much man and wife then as afterwards.
Chairman.—Have you ever seen anything in Mrs Caldwell's conduct which would tend to give you a bad opinion of her?
Mr Dixson.—No. I have never seen anything of the kind.
Chairman.—You are also aware that Mr May has been on very friendly terms with Mr and Mrs Caldwell for many years back, visiting at the house?
Mr Dixson.—Yes.
Chairman.—You are aware that Mr May is a married man?
Mr Dixson.—Yes.
Chairman.—He is Superintendent of Police and Justice of the Peace?
Mr Dixson.—Yes.
[Some questions of Mr Caldwell's were here disallowed by the Chairman.]
Chairman.—With reference to charge 16, I think you say that you are acquainted with the family of Mr Caldwell?
Mr Dixson.—Yes.
Chairman.—Are you aware that he has a Sister-in-law?
Mr Dixson.—A woman has been pointed out to me as such.
Chairman.—Do you know if in 1855-6 she kept a brothel?
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